Automatic cash-carrier



(Nd Model.)

J. w. FLAGG. AUTOMATIO -GASH CARRIER.

Unrrn STATES Parent tries J. IVALTER FLAGG,OF WVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC CASH-CARRl ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,768, dated August28, 1883,

Application filed July 12, 1883.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, Josnrn WVALTER FLAGG, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVorcester, in the county of IVorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AutomaticCash-Oarriers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cashearriers in which aseries ofinclined tracksor ways and hollow rolling carriers are used, and inwhich the distribution of the'carriers is effected by means of graduatedopenings in the outward track and a series of graduated carriers adaptedthereto; and it consists in combining guards with theelevatedreeeivingtracks, in adjusting and maintaining the size of theopenings in the distributing-tracks; in means for drawing up andsustaining the delivery baskets -or cages, and in a method ofdesignating the carriers and their corresponding outward tracks, so asto facilitate the dis-' tribution of the carriers.

The accompanying drawings represent portions of a caslrcarrying systemembodying my invention, in which Figure 1 shows a section of the inwardreceiving-track; Fig.2, a section of the outward or distributing track.Fig. 3 is a top view of thesame; Fig. 4, asectional view of the devicefor drawing up and holding the baskets; Fig. 5, a top view of a part ofthe receiving and inward tracks, showing the guards. Fig. 6 shows theadjusting-screw for regulating and maintaining the proper width of theopeningsin the outward track. Fig; 7 is an end view of the inward andoutward tracks, and Fig. 8 represents three of -the cash-carriers.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in. the several views. 7

The construction and operation of the cashcarrying system to which mypresent inven tion relates was made the subject of and is fully setforth and described in Letters Patent granted to me March 20, 1883, andNo. 274, 302, to which reference may be had.

A, Fig. 1, shows the main inward inclined track, leading from thestore-counter to the cashiers desk, and B is one of the elevatedreeeivin'gtracks, at the lower end'of which I place the curved rods orwires a a, one on each side of the track, with their lower ends, a a

(No model.)

of such height that a carrier, G, in rolling off 7 the elevator-track Band striking against a carrier, 0, on the main track will be pre ventedfrom leaving the track. The outward track, D, Figs. 2 and 3, havegraduated openings E and E, in order to distribute the graduatedcarriers at the proper stations, as is fully described in the LettersPatent above mentioned.

Between and near to the openings in the out ward track I attach the lugsI) I), one contain ing a right and the other a left hand screwthread, inwhich the screw F works. Upon the screw F, I place the eheeknut b Inorder to accurately adjust the width of the openings E E, I withdraw thecheck-nut b from the lug b, and by means of the rightand-left-hand screwF, adj ust the width of the track, as desired, when the check-nut b isbrought against the lug Z), thereby holding the screw from turning.

Instead of the screw F, a screw may be used passing through holes in thelugs Z) Z), and the lugs held in proper position by means of checknuts;or other well-known methods for the purpose may be used.

As the carriers fall through the openings E E they are received in awire cage or basket, G G, or other suitable receptacle held up againstthe under side of the track 1) by cords c 0, attached to the sides ofthe baskets and wound several times about the rotating drums H H. Thesedrums contain a coiled spring so arranged that when the baskets aredrawn down by means of the rings (2 d the spring will be coiled up, andby releasing the basket the tension of the spring will draw it up in theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I

construct the drum II as shown in section in Fig. 4, so the motion ofthe spring will be multiplied at the surface of the winding-drum.

I represents the drum, having the cord 0 wound upon it, and revolving onthe fixed spindle 6. Attached to the inside of the drum I is the pinionf, which drives the intermediate pinion, f, revolving on a stud in thearm f which is rigidly attached to the fixed spin.- dle e. Theintermediate pinion, f, drives the internal drum, J, by means of theinternal gear, f so the rotation of the winding-drum I, caused byuncoiling the cord 0, will produce, a slower rotation of the inner drum,J.

Inclosed in the drum J is the coiled spring K, with its inner coiled endattached to the fixed spindle e andits outer end attached, by means ofthe pin to the drum J, so the operation of unwinding the cord will coilup the spring, several revolutions of the windingdrum I producing but asingle revolution of the drum J and spring K.

In use" it is often necessary that several tracks should diverge fromthe cashier s desk, and care is required to cause the several carriersto be returned upon the proper outward track. This becomes an arduoustask in large storesduring the busy portions of the day, and certainmarks or letters are'usually affixed to the carriers, corresponding withthe designating=mark attached to the track to which they belong.

Instead of the usual method,'I paint the carriers somedistinguishing-color, and'when the number of the tracks exceed thenumberof colors, affording a sufficiently-marked contrast with each other, Ipaint a band of color around the center of the carrier, as at L L L",Fig. 8, preferably placing the color on-eaeh side of the line h,dividing the halves of the carrier, so when-the carriers are separatedone half of the band will appear on one half and one half of the band onthe other-half of the carrier. In this method of arranging thedistinguishing-color the band will always be presented to the eye of thecashier as he holds the carrier for the purpose of putting the twohalves together.

At the inner end of the outward tracks, as at M, Fig. 7, I attach bywires i i, or by other suitable means, a ball, N, representing inexactduplicate the carriers belonging to that track so far as their outwardappearance is concerned, except in size. By this method of designatingthe carriers and the tracks the cashier is able to determine intuitivelywithout conscious comparison the proper track upon which the severalcarriers should be distributed; or, instead of a ball, N, a disk orhemisphere may be used.

I am aware that the rails of anautomatic cash-carrying system, having aseries'of graduated openings in order to effect the properdistribution'of a series of graduated carriers,havebeen-heretoforesupportedbyties,bridges, hangers, or cross-bars,which have also held the two rails together and at a certaindistanceapart. I do'not claim such, broadly. I useinstead an adjustabletie, which allows the'rails'to be adjusted as to the distance betweenthem with great accuracy when the track'is 'firstput up, and afterwardchanged at will to suit any variationin the size of the carriers.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the main inward track, A,-and-elevatedreceiving-track B, of theguards a a, as shown, and for the purpose setforth.

2.. The combination, in a cash system, with an outward track havingsuitable means of distribution of the carriers and receiving-baskets orother receptacles, of a winding device attached to said baskets, andconsisting of a drum I, gears f and f, inner drum, J, with an internalgear, f spring K, and fixed spindle e, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of drum I, 'pinions' f and f, arm f drum J, andinternal gear, f, spring K, attached to the drum'J and to the fixedspindle e, as described, and for the pur-' pose set forth.

4. The combination, with an outward distributing-track having a seriesof graduated openings and a series of graduated carriersadapted thereto,of means for adjusting or varying the width between the rails at will,as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with tracks D, having openingsE E, the adj usting rodF,with a right and left hand screw-thread, lugsb b, and

check-nut W, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a cash system, the combination, with two or more outwarddistributing-tracks, of a series of cash-carriers having a designatingband of color around the center, and arranged in about equal spaces oneither side of the dividing-line h, as and for the purpose-set forth.

7. The combination, with the outward track of a cash system havingappropriately-designatedcash-carriers, of a ball, N, or body atta chedto end of the outward track, and pre senting the similitude in form andcolor of one of the cashoarriers belonging to said track, as and for thepurpose set forth. 7

8. In a cash system, the combination, with a distributing-track andreceiving-baskets, of

the winding-drums H, and their springs K,

said springs being so attached to'the drums that their tension willsustain thebasket against 1 the tracks, as and for the purposeset-forth.

9. Ina cash-carrying system having outward tracks designated bydifferent colors,the hollow rolling carriers each having a designatingmark, consisting of a band of color passing around the carrier, as andfor the purpose'set forth.

J. WALTER FLAGG.

Witnesses:

It. B. FOWLER, GEO. E. SMITH.

